Hang rod assembly



Nov. 22, 1966 RUHNKE 3,286,850

HANG ROD AS SEMBLY Filed Nov. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENIOR.

j I I I A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 22, 1966 R. R. RUHNKE 3,286,850

HANG ROD AS SEMBLY Filed Nov. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT '05.

A TTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,286,850 HANG ROD ASSEMBLY Richard R. Ruhnke, Skokie, Ill., assignor to Garey Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,368 6 Claims. (Cl. 211105.1)

This invention relates to a hang rod assembly, and is particularly concerned with an adapter that may be readily secured to a conventional support bracket and has a support surface engageable with interior portions of a hang rod to support it in suspended position.

The adapter, which is preferably in the form of a casting, comprises a base member and an upstanding support member extending transversely of the base member at the outer end of the base member. The base member is secured to the outer end portion of a support bracket by screws, or in any other suitable manner.

The hang rod is tubular and has an interior portion thereof shaped to rest on a support surface on the upper edge of the support member. The hang rod may be fabricated in any suitable manner, but is preferably formed into tubular shape by rolling fiat strip material, and then bending the longitudinal edges of the strip reversely to form walls that extend inwardly of the tubular portion. The walls are shaped to engage opposite surfaces of the support member in spaced relationship to the support surface from which the hang rod is suspended, to stabilize the support of the hang rod.

A plurality of hang rods may be mounted on a series of axially aligned adapters in end to end relationship to provide an installation of any desired length. When the ends of the hang rods meet on the adapters in an installation of this type, the adapters hold the ends firmly in place, and no splice bars are required. If the joint between the meeting ends of two hang rods is at a point spaced from the adapters, splice bars shaped to conform to a portion of the inner cross-sectional configuration of the hang rod are used. A splice bar is inserted into the adjacent ends of two adjoining hang rods to reinforce the joint between the hang rods, and hold both of them against displacement in any transverse direction.

When a hang rod is mounted on the adapters, its upper surface, upon which a plurality of garment hangers are to be supported, is smooth, and is spaced above the adapter far enough so that the garment hangers may slide freely over the upper surface of the hang rods without interference from the support bracket or any portion of the adapter.

The structure by means of which the above mentioned and other advantages of the invention are attained is fully described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing three preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a hang rod installation embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing a difierent embodiment of the hang rod;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the hang rod assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the hang rod assembly of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a detail perspective View of one form of a splice bar particularly adapted for use with the hang rod of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a detail perspective view of another form of splice bar particularly adapted for use with the hang rod of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a detail perspective View of another form of splice bar particularly adapted for use with the hang rod of FIGURE 4;

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FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the hang rod of FIGURE 4 with the splice bar of FIGURE 7 inserted therein;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an elongated hang rod installation showing another embodiment of the hang rod, with parts omitted to facilitate illustration of the structure;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 1t)10 of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

In the drawings, a plurality of support brackets 11 are mounted in pilasters 12 secured in upright position to the front of a wall or partition 13. Each support bracket comprises a flat metal strip having two vertically aligned hook-shaped members 14 at one end thereof adapted to extend into vertically spaced slots 15 in the front wall of each pilaster to detachably secure the support bracket to the pilaster. The support brackets are of uniform size, and their outer ends are in transverse alignment when they are secured to the pilasters. The structure described above is identical in each embodiment of the invention, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 3, 5 and 6, the adapter 16, preferably of cast aluminum, comprises a base member 17 and a support member 18 integral therewith. The support member extends upwardly in a transverse direction at the outer end of the base member. The base member is secured to the bracket support by screws 19 or any other suitable fastening means.

The support member 18 comprises an upstanding wall 20 0f suflicient height to insure that a hang rod mounted thereon will be properly positioned. The upper surface of the hang rod must be spaced above base member 17 far enough so that a garment hanger may be slid across the hang rod without interference from any part of the adapter or support bracket. The upper edge of wall 20 has a diameter greater than the thickness of the body portion of the wall and is preferably shaped to form a head 21. The peripheral surface of head 21 constitutes a support surface adapted to engage an interior portion of a tubular hang rod 22, as hereinafter described.

Hang rod 22 may be extruded in substantially cylindrical shape and then deformed to provide the desired interior shape, but preferably is formed from strip material. The center portion of the strip is rolled to form an outer portion 23 of substantially cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal edge portions are reversely bent inwardly of the tubular outer portion to form an interior portion 24 connected to outer portion 23 by walls 25. Walls 25 are spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the thickness of wall 20 of support member 18. Interior portion 24 is shaped to conform to the cross-sectional configuration of bead 21.

Hang rod 22 may be mounted on support member 18 by sliding the hang rod longitudinally of the support member from one end thereof, or may be pushed down over the upper edge of the support member and snapped into place. The hang rod is supported by the engagement of its interior portion 24 with bead 21 from which the hang rod is suspended. Walls 25 of hang rod 22 engage opposite surfaces of upstanding wall 20 to stabilize the support of the hang rod.

When a plurality of hang rods are mounted on adapters in end to end relationship, splice bars 26 or 27 may be inserted within adjacent hang rods at the joints, if the joints are spaced from adapters 16. Splice bar 26, shown in FIGURE 5, is shaped to conform to the shape of support member 18 and has a head 28 adapted to fit within interior portion 24 of hang rod 22. A flat plate portion 29 depending from bead 28 fits between walls 25 of the hang rod. Splice bar 27, shown in FIGURE 6, comprises a cylindrical rod adapted to fit within interior portion 24. Either of these splice bars will reinforce the joint between adjacent hang rods having abutting ends to provide a rigid hang rod construction.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the adapter 30 comprises a base member, 31 and a support member 32.. Base member 31 is essentially a duplicate of base member 17 and is secured to the support bracket in the same manner. Support member 32 extends upwardly in a transverse direction from the outer end of base member 31. The upper edge 33 of support member 32 constitutes a support surface adapted to engage an interior portion 34 of a tubular hang rod 35.

Hang rod 35 is preferably formed from strip material. The central portion of the strip is rolled into tubular shape, and the longitudinal edge portions of the strip are reversely bent inwardly of the tubular portion to provide walls 36 engageable with opposite surfaces of support member 32 to stabilize the support of the hang rod which is suspended from the upper edge of the support member. Walls 36 terminate in coplanar flanges 37 the inner ends of which extend into notches 38 on opposite sides of support member 32. The engagement of the inner ends of flanges 37 with notches 38 prevents accidental displacement of the hang rod in any direction transversely of the notches.

In an installation comprisinga plurality of hang rods in end to end relationship,'a splice bar 39 may be inserted in the ends of adjacent hang rods to reinforce the joint between said hang rods when the joint is spaced from the adapters. Splice bar 39 is a segment of a cylinder, and fits between flanges 37 and the portion of the hang rod diametrically opposite the side from which walls 36 are reversely bent.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 9 to 11, the adapter 40 comprises a base member 41 and a support member 42..

The base member is secured to support bracket 11 in the same manner as base members 17 and 31. Support member 42 extends upwardly in a transverse direction at the outer end of base member 41. The upper edge of support member 42 comprises a support surface 43, and two positioning pins 44 extend upwardly from said support surface.

Hang rod 45 is shown as having an outer configuration different from the outer configuration of hang rods 22 and 35, but it will be understood that any hang rod may have any desired tubular outer configuration. Hang rod 45 may be extruded, but is preferably fabricated as a welded tube, and is then deformed to attain the desired configuration. A portion of the tubular member is reversely bent to form an interior wall 46 spaced from the outer perimeter of the tubular member by walls 47. Wall 46 is provided with a series of apertures 48 spaced uniformly throughout its length. Apertures 48 each have a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of pins 44.

When one of the apertures 48 is aligned vertically with a pin 44, hang rod 45 is dropped over the pin to position and a support member extending upwardly and integral with said body portion, and a tubular hang rod suspended the hang rod on the support member, and the hang rod is supported in suspension by the engagement of wall 46 with support surface 43. Pins 44 and apertures 48 are so spaced that when the aperture closest to one end of ihang rod 45 has one pin of an adapter extending through it, and the aperture closest to the end of another hang rod is positioned around the other pin of said adapter, the ends of the two hang rods abut each other. Pins 44 prevent lateral displacement of the hang rod.

Although I have described three preferred embodiments of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. In a hang rod assembly, a bracket, an adapter mounted on said bracket, said adapter comprising a body portion from the upper edge of said support member and supported solely by said support member, said hang rod having interior portions thereof in engagement with opposite surfaces of said support member, and the entire exterior portion of said hang rod being free of engagement with said support member.

2. In a hang rod assembly, a bracket, an adapter mounted on said bracket, said adapter comprising a body portion and a support member extending upwardly and integral with said body portion, and a tubular hang rod suspended from the top of said support member and supported solely by said support member, said hang rod having interior terminal edges in engagement with a portion of said support member of reduced thickness below the top of said support member to hold said hang rod against accidental displacement from said support member, and the entire exterior portion of said hang rod being free of engagement with said support member.

3. In a hang rod assembly, an adapter and a tubular hang rod, said adapter comprising a body portion and a support member integral with said body portion, said support member extending upwardly and transversely of said body portion, said support member engaging an interior portion of said hang rod to support said hang rod in suspended position, the exterior portionof said hang rod being free of engagement with said support member and the interior portion of said hang rod having longitudinally extending walls engaging said support member to stabilize the support of said hang rod.

4. In a hang rod assembly, an adapter and a tubular hang rod, said adapter comprising a body portion and a support member integral with said body portion, said support member extending upwardly and transversely of said body portion, said support member engaging an interior portion of said hang rod to support said hang rod insuspended position, said hang rod having two longitudinally extending walls within its tubular portion, said walls engaging opposite surfaces of said support memberin two separate areas to stabilize the support of said hang rod.

5. In a hang rod assembly, an adapter and a tubular hang rod, said adapter comprising a body portion and a support member integral with said body portion, said support member extending upwardly from one end of said body portion in a transverse direction, said support member having a length greater than the thickness of said body portion and engaging an interior portion of said hang rod to support said hang rod in suspended position, the interior portion of said tubular hang rod being so shaped as to engage each side of said support member along two vertically spaced lines to stabilize the support of said hang rod.

6. In a hang rod assembly, a bracket, an adapter mounted on said bracket, said adapter comprising a body portion and a support member extending, upwardly and integral with said body portion, said support member having a support surface along its upper edge, a plurality of pins extending upwardly from said support surface, and a tubular hang rod having an interior portion thereofsuspended from said support surface, said interior portion having a plurality of apertures through which said pins extend.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 501,918 7/1893 Caldwell 287 -2 804,023 11/ 1905 Millhizer et al. 287'-2 2,645,444 7/1953 Vanderveld 248-251 2,710,695 6/1955 Mazany 2l1l05.3 2,783,961 3/1957 Weber 248-243 3,157,378 1l/1964 Blurn 25665 3,164,354 1/1965 Murdock 248251 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HANG ROD ASSEMBLY, A BRACKET, AN ADAPTER MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET, SAID ADAPTER COMPRISING A BODY PORTION AND A SUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY PORTION, AND A TUBULAR HANG ROD SUSPENDED FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SUPPORTED SOLELY BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID HANG ROD HAVING INTERIOR PORTIONS THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSITE SURFACES OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, AND THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR PORTION OF SAID HANG ROD BEING FREE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER. 